PHIL Brown insists he will make changes to his Southend United team in order for them ‘man up’ at Stevenage on Saturday.

Brown blamed a lack of experience for Blues’ 2-1 defeat against Accrington Stanley last weekend.

And he is keen to make amends against Stevenage, with Adam Barrett, Gary Deegan and Barry Corr among those pushing for recalls after impressing in Tuesday night’s 7-0 win at Canvey Island.

“I will definitely be making changes to the starting line-up on Saturday to make sure we’re more experienced and more aggressive” confirmed Brown.

“When you play a team like Stevenage you have to man up and get in their faces because they are definitely going to be in yours.

“That’s what I’m expecting and there were certainly one or two players who put themselves forward for selection after how they played.

“Adam Barrett is certainly one who is in my thoughts and so are Gary Deegan and Barry Corr.”

Barrett has yet to start for the Shrimpers since returning to Roots Hall in January but he is now pushing to be included.

Deegan has not been in the starting line-up for the last five games since he was red carded at Oxford United.

Corr has also struggled to get in to the side and has spent seven matches out of favour.

However, the Irishman has scored twice in his last four substitute appearances and also bagged a brace in the emphatic victory at Canvey, which delighted Brown.

“The way the players approached the game was fantastic,” said the Blues boss.

“I asked them at half-time who wanted 60 minutes and who wanted 90 and the likes of Barrett, Corr and Deegan all wanted to play the whole game which was great.

“I also thoroughly enjoyed my first ever visit to Canvey’s ground and we’ve got a good relationship with them now.

“We spoke about the possibility of playing a pre-season friendly and it was a good pitch there so I would have no problems in going back there to play again."